Dealing with the Challenges Remote Communities Face

with Online Learning

Facilitated by:George Cavaliere

Sylvia Currie

• Rural BC is generally characterized by remote communities with high proportions of First Nations, low population densities, and poor technological infrastructure.

Interactive Status MapCourtesy of Telus

http://about.telus.com/digitaldivide/map.html

CURRENTLY CONNECTED

ZeballosSavonaMansons LandingGroundbirchChilanko Forks

YaleSandspitMalakwaGrassy PlainsCharlie Lake

YahkRose PrairieLyttonGrasmereCelista

WynndelRock CreekLundGranisleCape Mudge

WossRiske CreekLower NicolaGold BridgeCanal Flats

WinlawRiondelLittle FortGitwangak (Kitwanga)Burton

Wilson CreekQueen Charlotte CityLikelyGitanyow (Kitwancool)Buick (Blueberry)

Willow RiverPrespatouLax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson)Francois LakeBridge Lake

WestwoldPort RenfrewLasqueti IslandFort FraserBoston Bar

WellsPort EdwardLac La HacheForest GroveBlue River

VavenbyPort ClementsKuper IslandFieldBig Lake (Ranch)

VanandaPinchiKlemtu (Kitasoo)FauquierBella Coola

TopleyPinantan LakeKitkatlaFarmingtonBella Bella

TomslakeParsonKitamat VillageEdgewoodBeaverdell

Thetis IslandNorth BendKispioxDunsterBear Lake

Tatla LakeNazkoKettle ValleyDog CreekBamfield

TappenMount CurrieJaffrayDenman IslandBaldonnel

South HazeltonMoricetownHorseflyD'ArcyAnahim Lake

SointulaMontroseHornby IslandDanskinAlkali Lake

SlocanMoberly LakeHixonCrawford BayAlexis Creek

SkidegateMeadow CreekHartley BayCoal HarbourAhousat

SilvertonMcLeese LakeHancevilleClinton70 Mile House

SaywardMassetHagensborgClearview150 Mile House

Communities Connected as of March 2006

• Remote First Nations communities generally have poor access to telecommunications

• 80% of the provincial population has access to broadband while only 20% of remote First Nations communities have access

• There are very few provincial government services required in these communities, consequently there is very little provincial government demand on which to build a higher level of service.

• Many of these communities are also very remote, far from existing infrastructure

THE CHALLENGE

THE CHALLENGE• The Federal responsibility for providing services to these communities complicates the issue

• Lack of properly trained teaching staff, difficulty in recruiting and maintaining appropriate teaching and support staff

• Fear of formalized education resulting from the Residential School System

•Traditional First Nations Learning occurs primarily through verbal-linguistic intelligence (story-telling)

•To many, English may not be their first language

THE CHALLENGE

• Lack of adequate systems with appropriate programs

• Lack of qualified Network Administrators to monitor infrastructure

• Lack of support (i.e. family, educational)

• Online Learning is “different”

THE CHALLENGE

If the solution to the provision of adequate courses is to be partially met with technological solutions, then the real issues of technical support, adequate IT provision, training and maintenance issues need consideration. However it is perceived that IT alone will not necessarily meet the needs of many of the ‘remote’ students.

THE CHALLENGEFrustrations of an Online Learner

•Feelings of Isolation•Lack of Motivation

•Lack of confidence with technology•Lack of support for online learners

•Problems with the server•Slow Connection

•Fear

QUESTIONS WE ASKED STUDENTS TO CONSIDER

• What are some barriers to education?

• What are some of the challenges you might face learning online?

• Where would you go to get support?

• What makes a good online instructor?

• What makes a successful online learner?

REFLECTIONS OF A TYPICAL ONLINE LEARNER (NVIT)

• NAME: “May”

• AGE: 62

• LOCATION: Lillooet, Merritt

• COURSE: 3rd yr Social Work. (Hybrid)

• COMPUTER SKILLS: Very Little

• SUPPORT (Technical): Extremely low level

Credits NVIT for assisting in her successful online journey

Figure 1 outlines a proposed model for the

lifelong learners' environment, showing

two learning environments,

traditional learners' (A in Figure 1) and online learners' environments

(B in Figure 1)

How is NVIT Using Moodle to Address these

Challenges?

• Provide equal services to our online students that we provide for our campus-based students

• Make all students feel part of the NVIT community

• Designated areas for student projects and collaboration

• Course design considerations

• Site design considerations

• Office hours using scheduled chat times• Messaging tools "how are you doing?" • Quick check-ins with Students online• Help desk forum, self-serve resources• Drop in support (telephone/forum)• Shared support service for maximum coverage using a

variety of tools (forum, chat, messaging, telephone)

Provide equal services to our online students that we provide for our campus-based

Students:

Make students feel a part of the NVIT community

• Blog for announcements about campus events, opportunities, etc.

• Images, profiles, who's online

• Elder’s quotes using random glossary

• Keep main page highlights section fresh and relevant for all students

Designated areas for student projects and collaboration

• Student Society• Student Lounge• Social Work Community

Course design considerations

• File upload size kept to a minimum

• Incorporate resources that don't require special software to view

• No complicated navigation -- direct access to courses and resources

• Integrated help desk forums in every course

Site design considerations

• Shared use of help desk account so there is a help desk presence online

• Moodle site tested on dial up for routine actions - performance excellent!

• Integration of NVIT Library’s 25,000 electronic titles

• Involving Aboriginal students in customization

Sylvia Currie Monica Macaulay George Cavaliere

REFERENCES

Ministry of Management Services

www.network.gov.bc.ca/

www.mytelus.com

http://about.telus.com/digitaldivide/map.html

www.nvit.ca

•What are your ideas for addressing the challenges faced by students in remote communities?

•Are these challenges any of you face at your institutions?

•What are some of the ways you have used Moodle to help close the gap between students in remote communities and those with better access to resources and services ?